In the context of the milestones of language development, which of the following language milestones is a 13-month-old most likely to have attained?
The correct answer and explanation is:
At 13 months old, a child is most likely to have reached the milestone of saying their first recognizable word. This marks a critical stage in language development known as the “one-word stage” or “holophrastic stage.” At this age, the child typically begins to use simple words to express basic needs, emotions, or observations. Common first words often include “mama,” “dada,” “bye-bye,” or names of familiar objects like “ball” or “dog.”
The transition from babbling to using single words is a significant step in language acquisition. Prior to this, infants engage in cooing and babbling, experimenting with sounds, but by 12 to 18 months, many start to associate specific sounds with meaning. This is a result of their growing understanding of the world around them, and it reflects the developmental changes in their brain that allow them to produce and understand spoken language.
The child’s receptive language skills—understanding words spoken by others—typically outpaces expressive language skills (speaking). At 13 months, a child may understand more words than they can produce. They can often respond to simple commands, such as “come here” or “give me the toy,” even if they cannot fully articulate a response yet.
The development of language in this early stage is heavily influenced by interaction with caregivers and the surrounding environment. Regular exposure to language, such as talking to the child, reading aloud, and engaging in meaningful interactions, plays a vital role in accelerating language development during this time. Therefore, saying their first word around 13 months signifies the beginning of more complex verbal communication that will continue to expand rapidly over the following months and years.